Project Segment at DBYTC:
Empowering Young Women through Tailoring and Batik Making for Sustainable Income.
Project Summary:
The Skills for Employment Tanzania (SET) project, implemented by Swiss contact and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), enhances Tanzanian youth employability through vocational skills development in agriculture, hospitality, and manufacturing. Incorporating technical training, life skills, and entrepreneurship education, SET aligns its curriculum with market demands through continuous labor market analysis. In 2024, SET expanded to the Iringa region, partnering with the Don Bosco Youth Training Centre (DBYTC) to train 200 young mothers in tailoring and batik-making. The training, divided into two six-month batches, includes project mobilization, skills training, field placement, and business support. As the first batch completes their training, preparations for the second batch are underway. The project’s success is marked by strong participant and team commitment, with potential for extension based on continued achievements.
Project Objective:
To empower less privileged young mothers aged 15-24 in Iringa through comprehensive training in sewing and batik making, coupled with life skills and entrepreneurship education. In collaboration with stakeholders and an experienced team, the project aims to foster entrepreneurship and sustainable income among participants.
Expected Project Outcomes:
- Skilled young mothers in tailoring, batik making, life skills, and entrepreneurship.
- Enhanced sustainable income streams of young mothers through established tailoring workshops and post-training business support.
Stakeholders:
Project Sponsor: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Main Partner: Swiss contact (main contract)
Implementing Partner: DBYTC
Key Team Members: Fr. Fredrick Swai, Cassian Bilikwija, and Joseph Ngomite.
Current Status:
The project is currently in the skills training stage for the first batch of 100 students whereby one month remaining. So far, the students have mastered sewing skirts, gowns, and shirts. In the remaining month, they will focus on mastering the sewing of shorts, trousers, and batik making. Overall, the progress of the project is highly satisfactory. Batch two is expected to start in August and end their training in October. The overall project is expected to end in December 2024.